The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

How did vice domineer in the hearts of the Heathen, when nothing but virtue appeared in their faces! Pride in Diogenes (saith one) was but put up in a slovens case when he trampled on Plato's carpets. And that renowned Curius that supped on roots, had ambition for his sauce. Civility may arise from education, example, shame or fear; but as neither of these is physic strong enough to purge out corruption, but as weak remedies use to do, so these Lenitives give more mastery to the disease.

How did vice domineer in the hearts of the Heathen, when nothing but vertue appeared in their faces! Pride in Diogenes (saith one) was but put up in a slovens case when he trampled on Plato's carpets. And that renowned Curius that supped on roots, had ambition for his sauce. Civility may arise from education, example, shame or fear; but as neither of these is physick strong enough to purge out corruption, but as weak remedies use to do, so these Lenitives give more mastery to the disease.

Among beasts there are harmless Lambs, as well as hurtful Lions; among birds there are innocent Doves, as well as ravenous Vultures, and yet they have all the same specific nature of Brutes: Among men, some have better nurture, and (possibly from thence) better natures then others; some are churlish and cruel, others courteous and civil; some mild and morally righteous, others mad and desperately outrageous, and yet all may flow from the same humane nature. As the same earth is in some plants bitter, in others sweet, in both earthly; so the same humane nature may be in some more pleasing, in others more poisonous, in both but humane, neither being partaker of the Divine nature: Some are like swine in a fair meadow, more cleanly; others wallowing in the mire more dirty; and both swine. Our Civil Law saith of mixed beasts, Elephants and Camels, that they do the work of tame beasts, but have the nature of wild ones: Such are our mere civil men; their nature is wild, though their actions are tame. The Bear, as is reported, bringeth forth most ugly and misshapen Whelps, but by licking them brings them to a better form, yet they are Bears still: Thus all men are ugly and notoriously vile by their births, all full of wickedness as the ocean is of waters, good breeding, learning, living among them that are godly, may lick them fair and civil, and put them into a better